Welcome back to The Gurgler’s F1 Season G-Power Rankings – our way of using various F1 based stats for 2022 to determine the most recent race and the season’s best drivers so far. Our 2022 Spanish Grand Prix Ratings is a unique collection of stats that try and find a different way to determine the best drivers.
Our 2022 F1 Season Power Rankings goes a little bit deeper than just points scored on the Sunday. We take on board Free Practice, Qualifying, performance in relation to team mate, fastest lap, and a few more stats that are attempting to highlight a driver outperforming the car. Even the occasional Sprint Race when they happen.
A full explanation on what is included and the points awarded is below the visuals.
Our 2022 Spanish Grand Prix Ratings is more than just a score for driver of the day, we have the race results, season progress, and so many F1 based points of interest in easy to consume visuals.
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings – Race 6 2022 Spanish Grand Prix Driver Ratings
Here is the breakdown of the best and blurst driver from the most recent race at Barcelona.
No surprise that Max Verstappen was our highest rater given he won the race, and George Russell was one of the stars of the race and rated highly. Not so Mr Saturday after all.
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings Progress – Martini Medal Driver of the Year
Here are the current overall standings for our Driver of the Year winner – the Martini Medal. Named in honour of one of F1’s most unsung heroes – Pierluigi Martini of Minardi fame.
We have the overall scores as they stand, plus a visual which shows the flow of each driver’s position throughout the season.
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings – Other Interesting Stats
DRIVER 2022 H2H RECORD
A couple of drivers staring down the barrel of a 2022 season spanking.
Carlos Sainz is at the top of the sore-bottom list list, and is in danger of being the Barrichello for 2022. Same doesn’t apply for Perez on the same score, as that is expected. Even less is expected of Nicholas Latifi and is delivering accordingly.
Saddest H2H story is Daniel Ricciardo’s thrashing by Lando Norris.
Surprises are Ocon and Russell who are ahead of their world champion team mates.
QUALIFYING
Here our qualifying analysis covers the average grid position as well as the gap to pole.
For the gap to pole the % from pole is relative to the fastest lap in whichever qualifying session was the final one for each driver.
Charles Leclerc has the best grid position average, but Max Verstappen has the best % from Pole Position result.
Our second qualifying visual shows quite a gap opening up to the midfield and even among the top four.
Finally we have qualifying results split into the type of track – Modern, Street and Classic.
FIRST LAP POSITION GAINS
Here is the summary and details for first lap movement for the 2022 season so far.
Some drivers are punished for first lap shenanigans, but maybe they should behave themselves.
Unsurprisingly, the Williams drivers head the better performed first lap gains, it helps to be at the back of the grid with minimal room to move backwards.
Max Verstappen is one of four full time drivers yet to lose a place on the first lap.
Both Ferrari drivers and Valtteri Bottas are the only drivers to not gain a spot on the first lap.
FASTEST LAP
Fastest Laps are a glory run for that extra point, but it can also point towards race pace, or how much is left in the tank at the end of a race.
So here are some fastest laps stats for fun.
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings – Points Explanation
Here’s how the points work this season. Essentially the perfect race (Win from Pole, Fastest Lap, thrash team mate, best in race etc) should amount to the perfect 100 points.
FIRST LAP GAINS +0.5pts per position gained -0.5pts per position lost.
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS – 25pts to 1pt as per World Championship – Sprint Race Points added.
BEAT TEAM MATE (RACE) – 10pts (if both finish or other driver got self inflicted DNF)
FASTEST LAP – 5pts – 1pt for top five drivers.
GRID POSITION TO RACE POSITION – formula +/- relative finish to grid
BEST OF THE REST (RACE) – 5pts to 1pt – top five non Mercedes-Red Bull drivers
QUALIFYING – 20pts to 1pt – Grid Position 1 to 20.
BEAT TEAM MATE (QUALIFYING) – 5pts
BEST OF THE REST (QUALIFYING) – 5pts to 1pt – top five non Mercedes-Red Bull drivers
GREAT/GRAPE – 5pts Great 2pts Honourable Mention -2Pts Dishonourable Mention -5Pts Grape
BEAT TEAM MATE (QUALIFYING) Time Gap – Formula for % beaten team mate by
BEAT TEAM MATE (QUALIFYING) Position – 0.5 Pts for every position team mate is beaten by. 0 points for second car.
FREE PRACTICE HERO – 10Pts to 1Pt – Average Position across all three practice sessions.
WIN FROM POLE – Bonus 5 Points
WIN FROM POLE WITH FASTEST LAP – Bonus 10 Points
SPRINT RACE – Points awarded as per F1 points from 8 to 1.
SPRINT RACE RACE GAIN – Net position from Qualifying divided by two.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 21: Sergio Perez of Red Bull drives during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain on May 21, 2022. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
The F1 circus arrived back in Europe for what feels like the real start of the Championship, where the updates need to matter to Championship hopefuls, the excuses are starting to run real thin, and our 2022 Spanish Grand Prix Results, Lap by Lap, Review & Summary needs to deliver a bite sized summary of the race,
Our review covers what happened in the race so you don’t have to in the laps that matter. Plus we throw in our Race Ratings, the Best (Great) and Worst (Grape) drivers of the race weekend.
The perfect bite sized review for those who couldn’t be bothered, or don’t have enough time.
2022 Spanish Grand Prix Results, Lap by Lap, Review & Summary gives you just enough to catch up with.
And why not check out our Miami Grand Prix Power Rankings which highlight our driver of the season so far and the last race.
—-
2022 Spanish Grand Prix Results
THE LAPS THAT MATTERED
Didn’t see the race live? Don’t have time to watch the whole race? Well here are the top laps where stuff happened. We write these live as we go, sort of like a minute by minute for the football, but marginally more interesting.
Setting the Scene – Truth be told the Spanish Grand Prix isn’t ever a race that one looks forward to. Unless you’re Spanish or it is raining. But all the same we’re going to do the important laps.
But it’s bloody hot, and so one can wonder, and hope, if the heat will add a factor that could spice things up at some stage. Well, at least Lewis Hamilton won’t win for a change.
This will test the new rules and all the FIA fanfare about them. If there’s minimal overtaking here, the new rules have failed. Fact.
GRID – LEC VER SAI RUS PER HAM BOT MAG RIC SCH
Lap 1 – Leclerc outdrags, outweaves and outlasts Max Verstappen into the first corner, behind him George Russell gets in front of Carlos Sainz. Further back in the field on turn three Kevin Magnussen runs into the side of Lewis Hamilton or Hamilton slides into Magnussen (depending on the driver), the Dane slides off into the gravel but continues. Lewis Hamilton suffers tyre damage and pits. Whilst one Haas was making a bit of a fool of themselves, Mick Schumacher had quietly leapt from 10th to 6th. The two McLarens gained on lap one which is nice. Daniel Ricciardo temporarily ahead of Lando Norris. Carlos Sainz will probably take losing two spots over a first lap exit we figure.
The worry is, have we peaked for action now?
ORDER – LEC VER RUS PER SAI MSC BOT RIC OCO NOR
Lap 5 – Valtteri Bottas (formerly known in this series as Nottas) gets past Mick Schumacher for 6th. Daniel Ricciardo starts his decline after Ocon get by for 8th. And the lap five rundown finishes with Lewis Hamilton suggesting to his team to “save his engine” aka “retire this care as I’m miles behind and don’t see the point”. The team disagree.
Lap 6 – Mick Schumacher drops another place, this time to Ocon. Further back Fernando Alonso is making decent progress, he nails Vettel for 13th on lap 7. Maybe this race will have some decent overtaking. Always easy to pick on the Spanish track we guess.
Lap 7 – Carlos Sainz spins at turn four and slides into the gravel. He drops from 5th to somewhere much further back, and the arse falls out of the Red hat wearing Spanish crowd. We confirm Sainz ends up 11th.
Lap 9 – Max Verstappen runs wide at the now very dangerous turn four. He drops to fourth behind the “lucky” George Russell and his team mate Perez who we’re sure will make it difficult to get by. Verstappen blames the wind for his off. More beleivable than Mark Webber’s electric surge from an underground train back in the day at a Singapore GP.
ORDER – LEC RUS PER VER BOT OCO NOR MSC RIC TSU
Lap 11 – Whilst the exciting Russell-Perez-Verstappen snake slithers around Barcelona, we look up to see Lando Norris is up to 7th. Bloody hell he’s good. Daniel Ricciardo in comfortable territory now, behind and disappointing. More disappointment coming too, as the McLaren is passed by Yuki Tsunoda too. McLaren put him out of his misery that lap when they pit him. Oh, and Max Verstappen passed Sergio Perez for those not expecting it.
Lap 14 – Russell and Verstappen pit for tyres in the blink of an eye, which the FIA are looking into the official time of blinking to ensure fairness, the duo come out 4th and 5th. Bottas stays out to enjoy a temporary podium spot, for a lap.
Lap 16 – In case you’re reading this or watching the coverage, Charles Leclerc does exists, and is cruising out in front. Back to Verstappen v Russell and the Red Bull’s DRS system isn’t working, which should make Max happy. It was working for the next lap, but Verstappen couldn’t get past after some stern defence from Russell.
Lap 18 – Sergio Perez pits from second, and comes out in fourth. Charles Leclerc still not pitted.
Lap 22 – Charles Leclerc finally pits from the lead, a position he keeps.
ORDER – LEC RUS VER PER BOT OCOSAI VET NOR TSU
Lap 24 – Max Verstappen looks like he is ahead of George Russell going into turn one, but the Mercedes driver swings around the outside of turn one and steals the inside line of turns two and three keeping Verstappen at bay for the rest of the lap somehow. George Russell driving beautifully managing to keep Verstappen behind. Russell helped by Verstappen’s DRS troubles.
Lap 27 – Charles Leclerc is out. Leclerc’s Ferrari loses power halfway around the lap, and the easy, easy win (yes, like a Sunday Morning) is gone. He drives straight to the pits to retire.
Lap 28 – George Russell and Max Verstappen are now battling for the lead, and Perez is sneaking up behind as they squabble.
Lap 29 – Max Verstappen pits for new tyres, looking for an undercut on George Russell. Perez takes up duties in trying to overtake Russell with no success, yet.
Lap 31 – Sergio Perez shows how it is done by overtaking George Russell with ease. Around the outside into turn one. The Mexican driver is now the new leader of the race. How long will he last in front?
Lap 32 – Not long if Verstappen’s pass on Bottas for third is any indication on lap 32. Around the outside of turn 12, which is a pretty decent overtake. For the record, Zhou retires his Alfa Romeo for a reason we’re not sure as this is the first mention of him.
Lap 36 – Sergio Perez is over five seconds in front of second placed George Russell, who has to start worrying about Max Verstappen….again,
Lap 37 – George Russell pits from second with Verstappen flying. Russell ends up third, and Verstappen takes the lead when Perez pits on Lap 38. Verstappen has 17 seconds lead on Perez, with another four to George Russell.
Lap 42 – The race has settled down a bit at the front, so we’d better do an order check for those interested.
ORDER – VER PER RUS BOT SAI HAM OCO NOR VET ALO
Lap 45 – Max Verstappen pits for new tyres. The Red Bull exits the pits just in front of George Russell. But behind his team mate Sergio Perez who takes over in front.
Lap 49 – Verstappen gets past his team mate, who provides no real level of difficulty. The Dutchman leads and is well on his way to another win.
Lap 52 – George Russell pits for new tyres, and falls back to fourth behind Valtteri Bottas. A lap later and Russell is back ahead easily.
Lap 54 – Sergio Perez pits for new tyres also. He’s probably bored. He stays second.
ORDER – VER PER RUS BOT SAI HAM OCO NOR ALO MSC
Lap 58 – Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton both get back Valtteri Bottas. Perhaps we’ll get a great battle to end the race.
Lap 60 – Lewis Hamilton goes around the outside of Carlos Sainz at turn one. That gives him fourth place now
Lap 65 – Carlos Sainz re-overtakes Lewis Hamilton for fourth, as the Mercedes drivers are told to slow down so they can make the finish.
FINAL LAP – Max Verstappen wins the Spanish Grand Prix, a decent win with a large chunk of luck with Leclerc retiring. But that DNF has happened to Verstappen already this season and now it’s his turn to cash in. Perez makes it a Red Bull 1-2 with the very impressive George Russell grabs the other podium spot. Behind, other cars finished on a sliding scale of usefulness and interest.
FINAL ORDER – VER PER RUS SAI HAM BOT OCO NOR ALO TSU
2022 Miami Grand Prix Results
RACE RATING
Was it a good race, loads of action, tense, or just a big, fat, snooze-fest.
We rate the big race itself so we know which races to go back and watch in the off season or one to simply remember the winner for the post season quiz nights.
SEASON IMPORTANCE – 7/10
It’s still only early days, but Leclerc’s car failure proves both championship leading cars are not bulletproof, this season anyway. A pretty important race for Carlos Sainz, his effort may see Ferrari banish him to dedicated number two. And is this the start of the Mercedes comeback.
ON TRACK ACTION – 7 /10
It was better than we thought. Battles up the front, battles in the midfield. A few random spins off the track. Differing strategy. Cars breaking down and sliding off. Perhaps not quantity but quality.
ENDING 3 / 10
Not much to look at in the last 10 laps or so. Red Bull doing it easy and everyone else likely too scared to wreck their tyres. It is a dull track, and a stinking hot day, so what else did we expect? The potential of Mercedes breaking down was a decent side interest.
OVERALL RATING 17 / 30
A good race but not great. Wasn’t a complete bore-fest.
2022 SEASON RATINGS SO FAR
Want to know what we thought of previous races? Or which ones to to back and watch?
2021 Spanish Grand Prix Results
GREAT & GRAPE OF THE RACE
Here we go through the field and highlight the very best (Great) of the race, and the plodders, the ambitious, the out of luck, and simply hopeless (Grape).
These points get added to our Driver of the Season scores. Five points for a great nomination, and -5 for the worst or grapest driver in the pack. Then it is +2 /-2 for honourable or dishonourable mentions.
It used to be called the good, bad and ugly, but everyone is using that now. And who doesn’t like grapes.
THE GREAT-EST – MAX VERSTAPPEN
It doesn’t get much better for Max Verstappen, a win and his nearest rival Charles Leclerc retires from the race while in the lead. He ran wide and lost a few places during the race, but that was a minor blip. Dominated yet another race and takes the Championship lead.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
CHARLES LECLERC – So he didn’t get a win, bag O points or finish, but his drive up to the point of his retirement was sublime. Another pole position for the trophy room too, but still missing out on a win sucks.
SERGIO PEREZ – Another underrated, under appreciated drive from the Mexican. Always thrives when conditions or races have a factor that requires patient driving.
GEORGE RUSSELL – Another great weekend for the British driver, outqualifying his illustrious team mate. Battled at the front with the Red Bulls and held his own.
VALTTERI BOTTAS – Who’d think it would take an Alfa Romeo For Bottas to race ahead of Lewis Hamilton at Barcelona. Well, mostly. Another solid weekend from the Finn, almost sensational. Strong qualifying saw him line up 7th, and he ran in the top four for a large chunk of the race. An argument for being one of the top five drivers of the season so far.
LANDO NORRIS – Clearly getting the most out of a car that looks much worse in the hands of his team mate. Another solid weekend of minor points.
THE GRAPE-EST – CARLOS SAINZ
A huge crowd were hopeful that the Spanish Ferrari driver could bring home success. But his third on the grid was a minor disappointment, as was the drop to fifth on lap one. As was the spin that sent him down to the midfield. Decent end result, but is the damage done for his reputation within the team.
DIS-HONOURABLE MENTIONS
DANIEL RICCIARDO – A decent qualifying was soon forgotten as he fell back through the field. Of course Lando Norris didn’t take long to get past him in the race, and seemed to have fewer problems with the car.
LEWIS HAMILTON – Outqualified by his team mate again, and hit by Kevin Magnussen on the first lap on turn three. This drops him to second last, and half a minute behind third last. He asks if he can park the car, and told no by the team.
WILLIAMS TEAM – Circulating at the back of the field, despite the promise shown so far in 2022.
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings
Stay tuned for our Power Rankings from the race soon as it is currently being calculated.
Welcome to our Queensland Cup Round 9 Preview which as always featuring as many barely interesting stats as we could muster for this weekend and expert tips. Plus ours.
There’s a game by game preview of each match this weekend, with some nice H2H visuals and insights to impress family and friends ahead of the upcoming round.
Time to get on board some great local rugby league and our HostPlus Cup-Queensland Cup Round 9 preview.
Queensland Cup Round 9 Predictions
Onto our regular weekly tipping.
The merge of Intrust Super and HostPlus may have seen the competition name change from Intrust Super Cup to HostPlus Cup, but we still have Intrust Super’s Brendan O’Farrell joining us for the 2022 season again. He is the multiple reigning champion after all for our website.
New for 2022 is the main man of the local independent rugby League website Nothing But League. They have outstanding rugby league coverage and still have time for Queensland Cup here too.
BRENDAN O’FARRELL
REIGNING GURGLER QLD CUP TIPPING CHAMP
FORMERLY OF INTRUST SUPER
2022 Stats 32/49 (65%)
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Mackay Cutters
PNG HUNTERS to beat Redcliffe Dolphins
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Ipswich Jets
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Northern Pride
TWEED SEAGULLS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Central Capras
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Tigers
MACKAY CUTTERS to beat Wynnum Seagulls
REDCLIFFE DOLPHINS to beat PNG Hunters
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Ipswich Jets
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Northern Pride
TWEED SEAGULLS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Central Capras
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Tigers
THE GURGLER (US)
2022 Stats – 26/49 (53%)
WYNNUM SEAGULLS to beat Mackay Cutters
PNG HUNTERS to beat Redcliffe Dolphins
TOWNSVILLE BLACKHAWKS to beat Ipswich Jets
SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS to beat Northern Pride
TWEED SEAGULLS to beat Souths Logan Magpies
BURLEIGH BEARS to beat Central Capras
NORTHS DEVILS to beat Tigers
QUEENSLAND CUP 2022 OVERALL STATS
Here’s a colourful and quick way to see how the 2022 season is going for the teams.
Welcome to our final look forward to the EPL weekend with our 2021-22 English Premier League Week 38 Tips + Stats Preview signing off a big, eventful season. We haven’t slacked off though, it is still a stat filled, barely interesting look at a bunch of Premier League stats and things.
Each week we provide a meandering look into the upcoming round of Premier League football, with not only our predictions for the upcoming Premier League fixtures, but offer up a wide range of H2H and in-season stats and barely interesting facts.
There’s so much to go through we can barely contain it to just one long page.
Anyways, while you’re here, these are our English Premier League Week 38 Tips ‘n’ Stats.
2021-22 English Premier League Week 38 Tips – Our Selections
Here are our fearless predictions for the fixtures ahead, and tune in below for all the stats and barely interesting stats that go along with them.
Arsenal 2 Everton 0
Brentford 1 Leeds 1
Brighton 2 West Ham 3
Burnley 0 Newcastle 1
Chelsea 6 Watford 0
Crystal Palace 2 Man Utd 2
Leicester 3 Southampton 1
Liverpool 2 Wolves 0
Man City 1 Aston Villa 1
Norwich 0 Spurs 5
Season Progress – 48% – 168/348 – 39 Correct scores
We’ve missed a few rescheduled games due to Covid.
Last Week – 4/10 – 0 Correct scores
Read on for the match by match full preview and stats.
All below stats don’t include Thursday’s matches.
2021-22 English Premier League Week 38 – Season Summary
Here are the league table stats in a different way.
Results colour coded. Goals stats. And a look at who each team is getting their points against.
2021-22 Premier League Week 38 – Current Form-O-Meter
You will see our Form-O-Meter throughout the match by match previews, but here is the current list from best to worst.
It includes total season form, home form, recent form and last three games form, with a bias on recent form.
2021-22 Premier League Week 38 – Sunday Form This Season
2021-22 Premier League Week 38 – Other Stats
2021-22 English Premier League Week 38 Tips – Barely Interesting Stats
Only Chelsea are unbeaten on a Sunday this season.
With one round to go only Manchester City and Leicester have a 100% against the promoted sides this season. Brighton and Spurs are unbeaten but have not conceded a goal against promoted clubs this year.
Watford face fellow London club in the final round, the Hornets have lost all 11 games v London clubs this season.
Man City are the only team to remain undefeated v Top Six sides this season. Liverpool have won all 12 games v bottom six sides (at time of match). No team has remained unbeaten against the middle eight sides this season.
Man City also have a 100% record v teams with blue kits this season.
Everton have won three in a row v Arsenal
Leeds Utd haven’t beaten Brentford in London since 1950 – 12 games ago.
The last six games in a row between Brighton and West Ham have ended in a draw. Score draws too.
Burnley and Newcastle last met in May in 1935.
Chelsea last lost to Watford at home in 1986 – 14 games ago.
Man Utd (W2 D1) have never lost to Crystal Palace on a Sunday.
Liverpool have won ten straight league games v Wolves.
2021-22 Premier League Week 38 Tips – Match by Match Stats Previews
Our big, beautiful full visual preview of each game is below.
More stats than you could probably ever want or need, for now.
MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - MAY 08: Adebayo Akinfenwa of Wycombe Wanderers celebrates progressing to the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final after victory in the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Semi Final 2nd Leg match between Milton Keynes Dons and at Stadium mk on May 08, 2022 in Milton Keynes, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
While the big football leagues and cups around the world reach their season climax and take most of the football and sporting headlines, as ever the best story in football this week is down a few divisions in our opinion, as cult football hero Adebayo Akinfenwa farewells football in the League Playoff Final.
And what a stage to say goodbye to football, the hallowed turf of Wembley, against a Sunderland team who will no doubt fill half the stadium. If Wycombe Wanderers open their ticket allotment up to wellwishers of Akinfenwa aka The Beast they’d easily fill the other half, If Wycombe aren’t already.
The big game in question is the often ignored, third tier League One playoff final. It’s no 100 million dollar game like the Championship playoff on the same weekend, but for Adebayo Akinfenwa fans and friends it is priceless – one last chance to see the big man in action.
Maybe you’ve barely heard of Adebayo Akinfenwa, or are unaware of this website’s love for the man we called our favourite footballer of all time. He was nominated for our Person of the Year twice. Not bad going for an obscure sports website coming out of a lounge room in Australia. And we’re not even Wycombe fans by birth, sadly our team is a former EPL-Championship side that finished just below Wycombe this season. But we’ve always followed the big man, because he brings big joy.
He’s no recent flash in the pan, hard to be at 40, but he has been around for a long time in the lower reaches of the Football League playing for 11 different football league clubs for nearly 700 games and over 200 goals.
The forward has always been popular, but there has been something magic about his linking up with minnows Wycombe Wanderers that has seen both prosper and becoming more popular, bringing joy to player, club and fans. For the club Wycombe they have risen from the fourth tier to the Championship against the odds as one of the Football League’s smallest clubs, and now are attempting to do it again, and for the man they call The Beast a chance to prove he was worthy of more after being told he wasn’t.
This weekend’s final is just shy of six years since Adebayo Akinfenwa scored a penalty for AFC Wimbledon in their 2016 League Two playoff win, and was looking for work afterwards having been told he was cut for the next season. Essentially told he wasn’t good enough for the third tier. How wrong that would be. Coincidentally, AFC Wimbledon’s great run in the third tier ended just this season as they were relegated back to the fourth division.
Below is the video of the infamous post match interview, and a better one to come in a years time.
For the record, the moment of debate over the penalty in that final he was talking about in the video is below. And funny.
Of course after moving on from Wimbledon, managers did indeed hit him up on What’s App, which eventually saw Adebayo end up playing for Wycombe Wanderers, then in the fourth division. His stint at the Chairboys is his longest stint at any club in total, six seasons, which has seen a promotion into the third tier, and a surprise League One Playoff final win two seasons ago which saw both player and club in the second tier for the first time.
He gained a lot of wider notoriety after their playoff win two years ago, with has been described by many as the greatest post match interview of all time. We agree.
Despite relegation, Wycombe and Adebayo Akinfenwa remained popular. Especially since Akinfenwa announced he was retiring after this season. Social media involving the Beast has many stories recently about him hanging around after games to catch up with fans from home or away. If would be almost impossible to find a footballer so universally loved around the game. No matter which club the people support, there has been unlimited love for Adebayo Akinfenwa this season.
He’s a team player, and an entertainment machine when he’s on the field, and usually good for post celebration as the below has some of Wycombe’s best.
But interviews and dance moves aside, he was and still is a great player. Sure the goals and playing minutes have dried up, but bloody hell, the man just turned 40.
Our favourite moments (winning playoff finals aside) was when Adebayo Akinfenwa’s clubs drew Premier League opposition in the FA Cup.
Two memories stick in the mind. The first was The Beast scoring against Liverpool in the FA Cup for AFC Wimbledon. But not only the goal, he terrorised the Premier League team’s defense all game, and gave them a thoroughly difficult night.
The second was when Wycombe played Spurs in the FA Cup a few years back. Adebayo and friends pushed Tottenham so hard that day that needed to bring on no less than Kane, Son and score goals in the 89th and 90 + 7th minute just to overhaul Wycombe’s bold lead.
Interestingly, Akinfenwa follows Liverpool, and Jurgen Klopp did indeed get in touch as mentioned in the best post match interview ever.
His personality though is what people are drawn to, and you simply never hear a bad word about him from anyone. Team mates, fans, opposition fans, people just love the big man.
Some have said he was too big for football or he was not good enough for a certain division, but his two decade-long career has been a magnificent “up yours” to anyone who told him he couldn’t do something. Not that he would say “up yours” himself, he’s too much of a man of the people. And for sure an example for others to look up to.
So Wycombe have a second chance in three years to be promoted to the Championship, a super effort given the other clubs in the third tier this season include big clubs like NetFlix heroes Sunderland, the world’s most vanilla team Ipswich Town and other big fallen giants like Sheffield Wednesday. Only one of those big clubs could go up this season, and if Wycombe win on Saturday, again the big name clubs have been beaten by better teams. And Adebayo Akinfenwa has had a large part in shaping the culture of a team as small as Wycombe allowing them to prove doubters wrong, like he has all career.
Before moving on from Netflix, they could have spent a little money on having a Sunderland-type documentary on Adebayo Akinfenwa’s last season. Bayo’s Last Dance or something similar. Surely good enough for Michael Jordan, good enough for a man called The Beast.
His last dance finishes at Wembley this Saturday, which will hopefully end in victory for Wycombe, and another great post match interview. They’re a chance given Sunderland’s poor record in big finals at Wembley.
He deserves no less than to taste victory one last time, and you should tune in for your last glimpse of the man.
So we say salute The Beast, and say goodbye to our favourite footballer of all time, any division, any era. Football will be that little bit less fun without him around.
Welcome to our weekly look at the upcoming weekend – the one after big Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. it’s just a regular old round with our regular old NRL Round 11 Predictions Stats Preview + Alternative Tips.
Each week we offer up a quick preview glance for each match, a bunch of barely interesting stats to go alongside, and our own thoughts on who will win.
We also offer up some alternative tips. These alternative tips are often based on a rugby league, and sometimes something completely absurd, and are aimed at those NRL tipsters who just can’t be bothered.
This week we are desperately trying to squeeze out one more lot of election based tipping. More on that soon.
So enjoy the 2022 NRL Round 11 Predictions Stats Preview + Alternative Tips where there’s something for everyone. Mostly.
2022 NRL Round 11 Predictions – Alternative Tips – Suncorp Stadium results since 1998
Short on inspiration already? Or looking for that edge to your tipping that no one else in your competition has? Well here are the Alternative NRL Tips for this round.
With the election on this Saturday, this week’s alternative tips are based on the election for one last time.
With Sportsbet slashing the odds for the ALP we’re gonna say say that the Labor Party are likely winners on Saturday. So that means that seats that have the lowest odds for ALP are more likely to be happier over the weekend. Hence, more likely.
Of course there were ties and we have explained them below.
* The Tigers are in Anthony Albanese’s electorate so will be happier.
** Anthony Albanese is a Rabbitohs fan – so they will be happier
*** Scomo is a well known Sharks fan, so will be unhappiest.
Note: Since the Warriors are playing out of Redcliffe we used that seat.
2022 NRL Round 11 Predictions – Gurgler Tips
Can we beat our own Alternative NRL tips? Usually not, so again we’ll have to keep trying.
BRONCOS to beat Knights
TIGERS to beat Bulldogs
EELS to beat Sea Eagles
WARRIORS to beat Dragons
STORM to beat Cowboys
PANTHERS to beat Roosters
RAIDERS to beat Rabbitohs
TITANS to beat Sharks
2022 NRL Season Prediction Results
Our tips jumped ahead of the alternative tips last week, so now onto bigger and better things.
ALTERNATIVE TIPS – 64% – 51/80 6/8 First Round Form 4/8 More Dangerous Mascot 3/8 Best H2H 6/8 April Fools 7/8 Bad Boy Points (Penalties/Sin Bins etc) 5/8 Greens Votes 6/8 Marginal Seats 5/8 Covid Cases 6/8 May Record 3/8 Suncorp Stadium Record
OUR TIPS – 64% – 51/80
2022 NRL Round 11 Weekly H2H Stats
Looking for a cheat sheet for the weekend’s upcoming games?
Much like Noah and his ark, ours come in twos.
Here’s as much information that we could cram into one visual, or two. Click on the images for a closer look. It looks marginally more impressive closer up.
2022 NRL Round 11 Barely Interesting Stats
MATCH BY MATCH BARELY INTERESTING STATS
Broncos won four games in a row for the first time since 2017.
Broncos have lost both Thursday clashes v Newcastle. It doesn’t help that they have been in the last two seasons when the Broncos have been crap.
Newcastle have won all three home games on a Thursday v Queensland sides.Wests Tigers and Bulldogs clash has been named the Shane Flanagan derby. Given he has been linked to both clubs all season by his mates at Fox League.
Wests Tigers have won their last three games at Leichhardt on a Friday by a combined 108-22. Two of those three wins have come against the two most recent premiers.
Bulldogs have won six of the last seven games v Wests Tigers on a Friday.
Parramatta have provided both top two sides with their first loss of the 2022 season.
Parramatta may have lost their last three v Manly but they have won the last four v Manly on a Friday.
Manly have lost their last four games away on a Friday v Sydney teams. And 13 of their last 16.
While technically all of the Warriors games are away fixtures since 2020, they have lost 12 of their last 14 away games.
Melbourne last conceded 30 or more in September 2020 v Dragons, and this was the most points conceded since letting in 34 points against the Dragons in May 2018. Melbourne have now lost four of their last seven Saturday games.
The Storm have won 25 games in a row v Queensland opposition, with their last loss against the Gold Coast in May 2017. Their last loss to the Cowboys was in 2015 – 12 games ago.
Penrith have lost one of the 18 games on a Saturday since season 2020. They have conceded six points or less in eight of those games. Penrith’s last loss v a Sydney team in Sydney on a Saturday was in 2019 against the Roosters at the SCG.
Souths have lost their last three against Canberra on a Sunday.
Gold Coast last beat Cronulla in 2017 – six straight losses since.
Gold Coast have only won one of six games v Cronulla on a Sunday, but have a 100% at home on a Sunday v Sharks.
2022 NRL Round 11 NRL Team Form O Meter
We have our own in-house way of measuring which team is going the best based on a bunch of available stats. Like Run Metres, Line Breaks, Tackle Busts, Tries, Goals, Errors, Tackles, Post Contact Metres and more.
2022 NRL Round 11 NRL 2022 Season – Team Stats
We have taken the best of the NRL data and turned them into visuals you can use to enjoy your rugby league this weekend.
YOU MAY HAVE MISSED…..
In a blatant attempt to get more views on NRL stories we’ve previously released, here’s a selection of the finest cuts.
The Australian Federal Election continues to meander on with promises that won’t be kept and childish barbs that don’t really matter, but we don’t really care for the politics it’s all about the 2022 Election Night with mandatory Antony Green and beer ‘n’ snacks.
After sitting through countless biased FTA news bites, biased newspaper articles and biased Sky News you deserve to have a good 2022 Election Night, and our guide promises to give as many barely interesting tidbits as possible to enjoy that night.. And like most election promises will probably not deliver.
But our Barely Interesting 2022 Australian Election Guide won’t go through what the two major parties are offering and try and help the swinging voter, we’re just here to provide a little barely interesting information for the casual election observer.
Like what’s the difference between the Great Australian Party and the Australian Federation Party and the Australian Value Party. Or which seat provides the potential for post-election newspaper headline puns. Or we wheel out the Hate-O-Meter for some of the minor parties. And so much more and something for everyone.
2022 ELECTION NIGHT – CANDIDATES TO WATCH
With so many seats in both houses of parliament up for grabs there’s loads of candidate attempting to get elected on 2022 Election Night there’s no way you can get to know all of them or even some of them.
There’s a bunch you’ll probably know already from the news that are reasonably important, but that’s not our style, we think you should know the more obscure ones, the ones with excellent, pun-able names who you should keep an eye out for as the results come in thick and fast on 2022 Election Night.
BOB COUCH (ONP – Boothy – SA) – For another seat you can watch out for during the night.
TIM HOLLO (GRN – Canberra – ACT) – An almost perfect surname for a wannabe politician in Canberra.
BASS (Tas) – the single best seat for potential puns for the newspapers the next day. Bob Salt “in the wounds”, Bridget Archer “on target”, Alison Baker “insert cooking pun here”, Stephen Humble “pie”, Kyle “Damp” Squibb, and Ross Hart “attack”. So many pun worthy winners.
KATRINA LOVE (Animal Justice Party – Franklin – TAS) – Not a better name for an Animal Justice candidate. Well there’s a better one coming.
BILL BURN (WA Party – Curtin – WA) – decent name for a politician for after the election.
IAN GOODENOUGH (LNP – Moore – WA) – and even better name for any politician which sums up how a lot of Australians vote.
MICK JONES (GRN – Capricornia – QLD) – For The Clash fans.
GREG DOWLING (UAP – Herbert – QLD) – Former rugby league player.
ROD JENSEN (KAP – Leichhardt – QLD) – Former rugby league player.
ANDREW KLOP (Animal Justice Party – Casey – VIC) Perfect name for an animal justice party.
FELIX DANCE (Socialist Alliance – Qld Senate) Who’d think that the socialist party would allow one to dance.
WILL COATS (LNP – Clark – TAS) – Funny, something he’ll definitely need in Tasmania in winter.
ANDREW CRIPPS (LNP – Senate – QLD) – At least Cripps is representing the right colour party.
MAX DICKS (IND – VIC) – Juvenile yes. Just like our Daily Dick pics too. Where using photos of Oxley Candidate Milton Dick for amusement is great.
The Gurgler will recommend only the ABC coverage. Only Antony Green will do.
Sure the commercial networks will have bigger names and louder opinions, and Sky News might be entertaining to watch if the ALP are winning with the slight Liberal bias, but you only need one person – Antony Green.
And only when he calls the election will we be satisfied. As the photo below points out.
2022 ELECTION NIGHT – GET TO KNOW THE MINOR PARTIES
With so many political parties looking for votes in the 2022 Federal Election, and so many of the minor parties sounding the same, we thought we’d take a look at some of these relatively unknown parties.
FUSION
Formerly the Science, Pirate, Secular, Climate Emergency Parties. For those who praise science and hate cyclones.
TNL
The New Liberals. As if we need a new one.
INFORMED MEDICAL OPTIONS PARTY
Ironically named the Informed Medical options party given their stance on vaccines, and the fact they get most of their informed-ness from Social Media, which is never wrong
SFFP
Another merger of minor parties. So if you were looking for Shooter’s Party on that Senate ticket they are now conveniently hooked up with the Fishing and Farmer’s Party. See also, Katter’s Australia Party for guns.
2022 ELECTION NIGHT – THE AUSTRALIAN PARTIES DEBATE
There’s more choice with minor parties than ever for the 2022 Australian Federal Election. The main ones are led by “mavericks” which is a very polite way of saying nutbag.
But below the One Nation, UAP, Katter etc rung on the ladder there are a bunch of parties with Australia in the name, but are they similarly aligned? Are they worth your Australian vote? Find out below if they are for you.
The beauty is they’ll never be elected so can promise anything. And they do.
The party’s main page starts off with a New World Order YouTube clip, so off to a good start. Plus there’s an image to download the party’s app that looks worse than out photoshop jobs.
Looking at their policies, one promise stood out – “Should the Great Australian Party win a seat in parliament, we would attempt to pass a bill making the Nuremberg Code law in Australia.”
Another that caught the ye was finance related and is certainly different – “GAP will abolish income tax and remove compulsory super. This will automatically bring in 33% more revenue in the home of every working Australian.”
Finally who wouldn’t respect the need for a standard national gauge for rail width in the country “Standardisation of transport systems with adoption of standard rail gauge in all states including any upgrade to drought effected area’s.” The area’s isn’t a typo on our behalf.
There’s a bit of religion here, which is all good if that’s your go. It’s also all god. Poor pun we know.
There’s also some anti-vaxx too if you’re into that “AusFedParty rejects any forceful vaccination “mandates” imposed anywhere across our great nation since they cause disunity, fear and ultimately mistrust of the Government and the Health Care Sector. On the other hand, freely exercising an informed choice promotes respect for and empowerment of the individual.”
Has been known previously as Country Alliance and Australian Country Party and Australia Party/Give it Back and Australian Country Party/Give It Back.
The Australian Citizens Party has some out there views, which may well attract punters on election night.
“The Citizens Party rejects the prevailing “green” view of the environment as somehow separate from, and threatened by, humans.”
From Wikipedia “The party espouses the claim that the Port Arthur massacre, in which Martin Bryant murdered 35 people and injured 37 others, was instigated by mental health institute the Tavistock Institute on the orders of the royal family, and that the Australian Liberal Party was founded by pro-Hitler fascists.”
Seems to be anti politics in general, and pro Rural Regional Australia, Defence without scaring people into ships off our coast, and the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
Seems the most normal choice of the Australian Parties.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 20: Recreation of Jason Voorhees from "Friday The 13th" and Freddy Krueger from "A Nightmare On Elm Street" on display at the opening of Rich Correll's "Icons Of Darkness" VIP celebration on October 20, 2021 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
A Brisbane man is relieved after Friday the 13th of May passed without incident.
Peter is saddled with the irrational fear of the number 13, also known as Triskaidekaphobia, so Friday the 13th always has him on edge.
Even though nothing bad has ever happened to him on the infamous date, Peter still wasn’t taking any chances: taking the day off work, not leaving the house, and avoiding social media and TV news at all costs.
”I know it’s stupid, but 13 has always made me uneasy. I think it started as a kid when I was dropped from the Queensland under 12’s rep team on the 13th of December. That was a pretty crappy Christmas that year,” said Peter. “On the plus side, all the free time I had yesterday meant I got through two of the novels I got for Christmas and caught up on some housework. Even so, I was counting down until midnight, only then did the weird, uneasy feeling go away.”
The day went so well that Peter is planning to make every 13th day of the month a holiday, “No work, no phone, no Ipad, no TV, no sport, nothing that can tempt fate. I’m gonna get so much stuff done thanks to my irrational fear of a number.”
Everyday News is a brand new general news/parody section of The Gurgler, and definitely not a lame rip-off of ‘The Betoota Advocate’. We swear.
Welcome to our 2021-22 English Premier League Week 37 Tips + Stats Preview a stat filled, barely interesting look at the upcoming weekend of Premier League.
Each week we provide a meandering look into the upcoming round of Premier League football, with not only our predictions for the upcoming Premier League fixtures, but offer up a wide range of H2H and in-season stats and barely interesting facts.
There’s so much to go through we can barely contain it to just one long page.
And it’s a bumper edition.
Anyways, while you’re here, these are our English Premier League Week 37 Tips ‘n’ Stats.
2021-22 English Premier League Week 37 Tips – Our Selections
Here are our fearless predictions for the fixtures ahead, and tune in below for all the stats and barely interesting stats that go along with them.
Season Progress – 48% – 164/338 – 39 Correct scores
We’ve missed a few rescheduled games due to Covid.
Last Week – 9/14 – 2 Correct scores
Read on for the match by match full preview and stats.
Spurs 5 Burnley 0
Leeds 0 Brighton 2
Norwich 0 Wolves 0
West Ham 1 Man City 3
Watford 0 Leicester 3
Aston Villa 1 Crystal Palace 2
Everton 2 Brentford 2
Newcastle 0 Arsenal 2
Everton 2 Crystal Palace 0
Southampton 0 Liverpool 3
Aston Villa 2 Burnley 0
Chelsea 1 Leicester 2
2021-22 English Premier League Week 37 – Season Summary
Here are the league table stats in a different way.
Results colour coded. Goals stats. And a look at who each team is getting their points against.
2021-22 Premier League Week 37 – Current Form-O-Meter
You will see our Form-O-Meter throughout the match by match previews, but here is the current list from best to worst.
It includes total season form, home form, recent form and last three games form, with a bias on recent form.
2021-22 Premier League Week 37 – Other Stats
2021-22 English Premier League Week 37 Tips – Barely Interesting Stats
Tottenham are unbeaten in their last 10 home games v Burnley (W9 D1). Burnley haven’t scored on their last three trips.
Tottenham, Everton and Liverpool are the only sides to still have a 100% record v bottom six sides (at time of match) at home this season.
Brighton have lost just one of their last 10 clashes v Leeds (W8 D1 L1). Leeds have only scored in two of those games for a total of three goals.
Norwich’s record from April onward in their past two Premier League seasons is W1 D1 L14 and have scored five goals.
Manchester City are on a run of 13 games unbeaten v West Ham (W11 D2). For the seven matches at West Ham in that run, draws bookend the seven games, and the five in between Man City won by a combined 22-0.
Watford haven’t won at home in 2022, nor December 2021 for that matter. A run of 11 straight defeats since November.
Crystal Palace haven’t scored a goal at Aston Villa in their last four meetings.
Aston Villa have the second worst record v London clubs this season with W1 D1 L11. Only Watford who have lost all 11 clashes with London clubs is worse.
Everton have the second lowest points per game v promoted sides this season. Watford are worse.
Arsenal have won seven in a row v Newcastle, and 17 of the last 18 clashes. Newcastle have won just five of the 42 clashes v Arsenal this century.
Liverpool have never lost to Southampton on a Tuesday W3 D4.
Six of the nine matches between Everton and Crystal Palace played in midweek have ended up as draws.
There have been no goals scored in Thursday games between Aston Villa and Burnley.
2021-22 Premier League Week 37 Tips – Match by Match Stats Previews
Our big, beautiful full visual preview of each game is below.
More stats than you could probably ever want or need, for now.
Welcome back to The Gurgler’s F1 Season G-Power Rankings – our way of using various F1 based stats for 2022 to determine the most recent race and the season’s best drivers so far. Our 2022 Miami Grand Prix Ratings is a unique collection of stats that try and find a different way to determine the best drivers.
Our 2022 F1 Season Power Rankings goes a little bit deeper than just points scored on the Sunday. We take on board Free Practice, Qualifying, performance in relation to team mate, fastest lap, and a few more stats that are attempting to highlight a driver outperforming the car. Even the occasional Sprint Race when they happen.
A full explanation on what is included and the points awarded is below the visuals.
Our 2022 Miami Grand Prix Ratings is more than just a score for driver of the day, we have the race results, season progress, and so many F1 based points of interest in easy to consume visuals.
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings – Race 5 2022 Miami Grand Prix Driver Ratings
Here is the breakdown of the best and blurst driver from the most recent race at Albert Park.
No surprise that Max Verstappen was our highest rater given he won the race, but Charles Leclerc still scored enough of our ratings points to keep the lead
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings Progress – Martini Medal Driver of the Year
Here are the current overall standings for our Driver of the Year winner – the Martini Medal. Named in honour of one of F1’s most unsung heroes – Pierluigi Martini of Minardi fame.
We have the overall scores as they stand, plus a visual which shows the flow of each driver’s position throughout the season.
Charles Leclerc leads this but his lead has been pegged back by Max Verstappen’s win at the Miami GP.
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings – Other Interesting Stats
DRIVER 2022 H2H RECORD
A couple of drivers staring down the barrel of a 2022 season spanking. Carlos Sainz may turn it around, but can’t see that happening for Nicholas Latifi. Bottas too must be enjoying handing out a H2H thrashing.
QUALIFYING
Here our qualifying analysis covers the average grid position as well as the gap to pole.
For the gap to pole the % from pole is relative to the fastest lap in whichever qualifying session was the final one for each driver.
Charles Leclerc has the best grid position average, but Max Verstappen has the best % from Pole Position result.
Our second qualifying visual shows quite a gap opening up to the midfield and even among the top four.
Finally we have qualifying results split into the type of track – Modern, Street and Classic.
FIRST LAP POSITION GAINS
Carlos Sainz and Daniel Ricciardo are down the bottom of the first lap totals after their incident in the recent GP at Imola.
Bottas is up to his 2021 tricks with a negative return for places made up from the grid. But at least it has been neutral the last three races.
FREE PRACTICE
Why not throw in some Free Practice stats.
It shows that McLaren are the least productive, not helped by the latest Grand Prix.
But pumping out Free Practice laps doesn’t mean pace, if you look at the top three cars.
2022 F1 Season Power Rankings – Points Explanation
Here’s how the points work this season. Essentially the perfect race (Win from Pole, Fastest Lap, thrash team mate, best in race etc) should amount to the perfect 100 points.
FIRST LAP GAINS +0.5pts per position gained -0.5pts per position lost.
CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS – 25pts to 1pt as per World Championship – Sprint Race Points added.
BEAT TEAM MATE (RACE) – 10pts (if both finish or other driver got self inflicted DNF)
FASTEST LAP – 5pts – 1pt for top five drivers.
GRID POSITION TO RACE POSITION – formula +/- relative finish to grid
BEST OF THE REST (RACE) – 5pts to 1pt – top five non Mercedes-Red Bull drivers
QUALIFYING – 20pts to 1pt – Grid Position 1 to 20.
BEAT TEAM MATE (QUALIFYING) – 5pts
BEST OF THE REST (QUALIFYING) – 5pts to 1pt – top five non Mercedes-Red Bull drivers
GREAT/GRAPE – 5pts Great 2pts Honourable Mention -2Pts Dishonourable Mention -5Pts Grape
BEAT TEAM MATE (QUALIFYING) Time Gap – Formula for % beaten team mate by
BEAT TEAM MATE (QUALIFYING) Position – 0.5 Pts for every position team mate is beaten by. 0 points for second car.
FREE PRACTICE HERO – 10Pts to 1Pt – Average Position across all three practice sessions.
WIN FROM POLE – Bonus 5 Points
WIN FROM POLE WITH FASTEST LAP – Bonus 10 Points
SPRINT RACE – Points awarded as per F1 points from 8 to 1.
SPRINT RACE RACE GAIN – Net position from Qualifying divided by two.
